Garth Brooks still doesn't want CMA voters to consider him for Entertainer of the Year.
Videos by Wide Open Country
During an online press conference on July 29, 2020, the country superstar, who's won country music's top prize a record-breaking seven times, told the media and fans he's removing his name from the running for the award. Right over a year later, Brooks doubled down on this request at a July 30, 2021 press conference for his Stadium Tour stop in Nashville, which got rained out and postponed the following night.
"I don't want to take a spot in that final five," Brooks said. "The stand is still the same."
Brooks said he began considering removing his name from the running after winning Entertainer of the Year at the 2019 CMA awards. Brooks won that year over Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Keith Urban and Chris Stapleton.
"It's time for somebody else to hold that award," Brooks said during the July 2020 press conference.
The singer said it was a message he read on social media that influenced his decision.
'There's one tweet in there that really stuck in my head," Brooks said. "It said, 'Hey, man. This guy, why doesn't he just step down [and leave] the entertainer for the next generation?' One-hundred percent agree."
Watch Brooks' 2020 press conference below.
